Local veterans group offering assistance to retired Army vet

That was the thought Rocky Rockwell said he had when he realized the magnitude of this weekend’s flooding.

Rockwell said he was watching television in his Barcalounger at his home on state Route 28 in the town of Herkimer on Saturday afternoon when something large hit the house. On Monday afternoon, when talking to media, he pointed to what he believed was the cause.

"That log hit the back of my home," he said.

The log he was referring to was laying flush against the front porch, which was now separated from the front of the house by several feet. The whole front yard of Rockwell’s home was covered in mud and debris from the neighboring creek Monday, two days after the flooding occurred. Large chunks of wood piled up in front of his home and some pieces were wedged between the house and its cement block foundation.

A muddy water line on Rockwell’s front door showed how high the water got at Rockwell’s home — which appeared to be about knee-high. Rockwell said he started going through his house when the flooding started to see how serious it was.

"… [T]here was six inches of water flowing through," he said.

Rockwell said not only did his house sustain significant damage, he also lost personal belongings. "Anything waist-high and above is safe," he said.

Flooding problems aren’t new to Rockwell who has lived there for over 23 years.

"It was the same problem as last time — June 28, 2013," he said, when the area last saw devastating flooding. "… But it rained so hard and so fast, it washed everything down … It plugged up the culverts. They had nowhere else to go except in to my yard."

Many residents in the region experienced flooding problems from the weekend’s heavy rainfall, including residents in the northwest part of the village of Herkimer. A state of emergency was issued by the village and town of Herkimer. Besides flooding and damage to homes, some roads experienced damage, including Oberle Road in the town of Herkimer and Route 171 in the town of Frankfort, where culvert repair needed to be done.

For Rockwell, he said this round of flooding was worse than 2013.

"It wasn’t this bad. There were 18 inches of water [then] … Now, it was three feet," he said.

The house isn’t livable, so Rockwell is currently staying with family.

He said he has reached out for assistance to start the process of cleaning up.

"I called the insurance. They said it was an act of God. It’s not covered," he said.

Fortunately, Rockwell — who retired from the U.S. Army as a first class sergeant after 30 years of service — is seeing some help from a local veterans group.

Jorden Bauder, farm manager and mechanic with Vets2Farm, was at Rockwell’s home Monday to discuss what the not-for-profit veterans organization plans to do to help Rockwell out. He also said a GoFundMe page has been set up for Rockwell. Vets2Farm has its own Facebook page for those interested in sending in donations.